If you’ve got an old wooden dining table lying around in your garage, now could be the best time to restore it to it’s former glory. We’re experiencing some pretty warm weather at the moment, and this is perfect for when you need to let new coats of varnish and sealant dry. So, give me your full attention for a few minutes, and I’ll present you with a simple guide that even the least capable DIY enthusiasts amongst you can handle. At the end of the day, nothing about this job is technical, and so there’s no reason you can’t get started straightaway.
Over the last six months, I’ve restored two old dining tables for friends. While they could have simply bought some cool new furniture, I felt they could still get a lot of usage out of what they already had. Although I didn’t make any promises, it turns out I did a really good job, and my friends now have the tables in their home once more. So, follow my guide, and you can’t go wrong.
Assessing the damage
Firstly, you’ll need to spend some time going over the table with a fine tooth comb to ensure it doesn’t have any irreversible damage. Unless the product was exceptionally expensive when it was originally purchased, you probably want to throw it away if there are any signs of woodworm infestation, as it’s just not worth the risk to bring an item like this back into your home. However, so long as most of the damage is superficial, you can continue.
Sanding the finish down
Next, you’ll want to head out and pick up an electric sander, as doing this by hand will take a long time. Make sure you get one with many different pads of varying grades, as this is how you will achieve the smoothest surface possible. Take the table into your garden and begin by using the roughest sanding pads you have. After you’ve taken the finish off the entire table, repeat the process with a softer pad until the surface is smooth and free from splinters. You can do this as many times as you like, as the table will just get smoother and smoother.
Re-apply a suitable finish
Some people like to spend hours varnishing old wooden tables by hand, but there’s really no need to go to this extreme. Instead, you can purchase some thinner, specialist finishes from most DIY stores that can be applied using a suitable spray gun. This will save you a lot of time, and will also ensure the item is more evenly coated. Again, you can re-apply this finish as many times as you feel appropriate.
Polishing the table
Lastly, you’ll want to get some strong, industrial polish to ensure you manage to remove any stickiness that may have been left over from the coating. This type of polish is usually very expensive, but as you only need a small amount, it shouldn’t break the bank. If you forget to do this, the chances are your table won’t look quite as stunning.
Well guys, there you have it. With the information in this article, you should be able to restore that smart, old, wooden dining table over the course of a single weekend.
Have fun!